Rope-measuring machine



- (No Model.) I 7 2 Sheets-Shet 1.

0.1EL1VIATHERS.

ROPE MEASURING MACHINE.

No. 529,285. Patented Nov. 13, 1394'.

4 Inwnfim fla terlfdfate m (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. E. MATHERSi ROPE MEASURING MACHINE.

No, 529,285. Patented Nov.'13, 1894.

JMWMHMIWMW mmlmliiiillmlllllma ,izayezz'il (N0 MOdeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. E. MATHERSi ROPE MEASURING MACHINE. I No 529,285. Patented Nov. 13, 1894.

STATES UNiTsD CHESTER E MATHERS, OF YORK STATION, ALABAMA.

ROPEQMEASURING MACi-HNE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 529,285, dated November 18, 189 1.

ApplicationfiledMay 24, 189 Serial No. 512.330. oiomoaai all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, CHESTER E. MATHERS, a citizen o'fthe United States, residing at York Station, in the county of Sumter and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rope-llleasuring Machines, of

I which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for unreeling, spooling and measuring rope, and

has for its object to provide a compact andconvenient machine for use in measuring off rope or cordage in retailstores or in factories where rope and cordage is spooled in definite lengths for the trade.

My invention consists in a rope measuring and spooling machine having the features of construction and novel combinations of devices as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings illustrating the invention-Figure 1 is a partly sectional side elevation of my improved rope measuring and spooling machine. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3*?) of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of one of the spools. Fig. 5 is a perspective of the spooler that has a hinged connection with one end of the machine frame.

The frame'of the machine may be substantially rectangular, constructed of either wood or metal, and comprises the posts 1 connected by longitudinally arranged bars 2 and by suitable cross bars or braces.

The machine frame may be extended to such height as to conveniently accommodate several superposed tiers of horizontally arranged spools 3 that are detachably journaled in notches or recessed bearings 4 provided in the longitudinal bars 2 on opposite sides of the frame. Although I have shown in the drawings only four tiers of two spools each, it is obvious that the dimensions of the machine may be increased or diminished in any required direction to best adapt it to the requirements of business and the varieties of rope and cordage in stock.

Each spool 3 consists of a shaft 5 having one fixed head 6 and areinovable head 7' having a screw-threaded engagement with screw threads formed on the spool shaft or axle. On the sp ool shaft 5, between the heads 6 and 7, are two reverseiy placed cones s the tapered portions of which are adapted to enter partly into the opening throughthe center of thecoil or ball. of rope or cord placed on the spool. On tightening up the movable spool head 7 the cones .8 are forcedorclauipedinto the ends of the rope or cord ball and thus secure it on the spool shaft, but in such manner that the heads 6 and 7 will not directly clamp the ball of rope and prevent it from unreeliii freely, there being a slight space on each sid between the coil or ball and the heads of the spool. The ends or journals of each spool shaft 5 are placed in the bearings hand may be detachably held therein by pivoted plates or bearing-covers 9, each of which is pivoted at one end to a bar 2 and provided at its other end with a slot 10 for engaging a stop pinon the bearing bar.

at one end of the machine fraineisameasuring device comprising two superposed transversely arranged rollers 1.1 and 12, the

journals of which are mounted in suitable bearings that may be supported between the forwardly projecting ends of two of the longitudinally arranged bars -2 forming part 0?" the machine frame. The shaft of the lower roller 11 carries on one end a worm gear 13 meshing with a worm wheel 1i secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 15 that carries on its upper end an index finger or pointer 16 working above the face of a horizontally arranged dial 17 fast to a plate 18 in which the upper end of the pointer shaft 15 is journaled.

Thedial 17 may have anysuitable number. of divisions, say, fifty or one hundred, corresponding with the number of teeth on the worm wheel and adapted to indicate, in feet or other units, the length of rope measured off. The index finger or poiuterlG should he loosely mounted on the shaft 15 in such manner that it can be readily set back to the starting point without moving the shaft or its gearing.

Between the spools and the rollers 11 and 12 is arranged an approximately M -shaped or tripl looped guide 19 having guideways both above and below th rough either of which the rope from a spoolinay be passed to and between the rollers. In front of the rollers aspring cli way of the triplelooped device the rope or cordis preferably drawnoif from the top and is passed under and through one of the lateral guideways of the triple looped guide 19, thence between the rollers 11 and 12 and thence out under the single looped guide20, as before. The journals of the upper roller 12 are inserted in vertically slottedbearings 2i and may be held down by springs 22, though ordinarily the weight of the roller 12 b'earingon the rope will be suificient to cause it toexert the required degree of friction on the lower roller 11 for. actuating the index finger orpointer'of the measuring device.

At the front end of the machine is mounted aspooler 23 comprising a cranked shaft 24 having a head or disk 25 fixed thereon, To one side of this disk or head 25 are secured a number of converging spring rodsl 2,6i,hat connect with the 'arms of *asmallr'and a} proximately star shaped head 2 end of the spooler shaft.

ends of the rods 26 which gradually taper from the head 25, and tend I ward the other end of the spoolerthat is thus somewhat in the form of a truncated cone.

To the inner side of the head 25 is attached p 28 adapted to clamp and hold the end of the rope as it'is drawn from the measuring device and wound onto the spooler. A- cranked handle 29 on the spooler shaft affords means for rotating the spooler. One end of the spooler shaft 24 is detachably journaled a fixed bearing 30.0n the end of the machine frame, while the other end of said shaft, or-that nearest the larger head 25, is journaled in a hinged bearing 31, so that when the desired quantity of'rope or cord has been measured, spooled or coiled, and

cut cit, the spooler 23 can be swung around i and easily permit drawing ofithe coil or hank of measured rope or cord from .the converging rods 26 of the spooler.

At a suitable point adjacent to the measuring device, preferably onthe guide 19, is pivotaily mounted a knife blade 61 cutter 32 by which the rope orcord can. be severed: after the desired quantity has been measured.

, The operation of the machine is so simple and obvious that further detailed description does not seem necessary.

7 on the other., The arms p f t-his head 27 are notched or recessed to receive the to converge to loosely on the spo ered, substantially as described.

frame, a measuring;

detachabl y journal tially as described.

two-subscribing-witnesses.

The spools 3 are so constructed and ar- 65 ranged, that the rope in being unre'eled can not possibly bind against the spool heads; the guides 19 and 20 on opposite sides .of the rollers 11 and 12 insure a direct passage of the rope or cord between theirollers and in a straight line in such manner that the measuring device will be automatically actuated with proper accuracy; and the tapering hinged spooler 23 permits a quick removal of the measured and severed rope or cord.

The machine may be readily made of any desired capacity to accommodate a larger-or smaller number of spools according to the extent and variety of bu'si'nes y What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a rope measuring machine, the combination of a frame,a number of transversely arranged spools detachably journaled in said frame and each comprising a spool shaft having a fixed head and a removable head and 85 a 'pair of rcversely arranged cones placed 01 shaft adjacent to but separate from the heads, a measuring device, guides mounted on opposite sides of said measuring device, aud a spooler hinged to the end. of the frame to receive the rope or cord from the measuring device and permit its quick removal when measured and sev- 2. In a rope measuring machine, the com- 5 bination of a frame, a numbero'f transversely 4 arranged spools detachablyjourrfaled.in said evice,..the triple lgoped guid'e betwleen the spoolsa'nd measuring de vice; the single loop sideof the-measuring device,

and aispoolpr mounted at one end of'the frame and having one e ot its shaft detachably journaled in a fixed caring-and its other end journaled in a bea 'ng hinged to the frame, substanr05 tially'a s described;

3. In a rope'nieasuring machine, the combination of a rectangular frame, the super- 4 posed tiers of transversely arranged spools ed in saidframe, a meas- I I0 uring device, the looped guides mounted on opposite sides of said measuring device to conduct. therope to and from the same, a cutter adjacent to the measuring device, and a rotary spooler having at one end a bearing t1'5 hinged tothe exit end of the frame and its otherend detachably journaled and adapted to be swung around'to permit quick removal of-the measured-and severed rope, substan I20 In testimony whereof I' have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of CHESTER EMM'ATHERSL a a] -Witnesses: 1

T. HEARN, 1 '8. AOmnnou. 

